In Focus: Zach Stewart
Last week, Stewart was claimed off waivers by the White Sox returning him to Chicago's organization for a second time. The 26-year-old originally came to the South Side with P Jason Frasier in July of 2011 from Toronto in the deal that sent Edwin Jackson north of the border.
Stewart lasted just less than a year with the White Sox going 3-7 with a 6.14 ERA in 28 games (9 starts) in his first go-around in Chicago. He also made one appearance with the Knights going 6.1 innings allowing three runs in a loss to Durham in his first start in the organization.
On June 24 of last season, Stewart along with former Knight Brent Lillibridge were sent to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for 3B Kevin Youkilis. While in the Red Sox organization, the right-hander spent the majority of his time pitching for Triple-A Pawtucket (3-5, 3.94 in 11 GS) but did make two starts for Boston allowing 14 runs in 5.2 innings as he suffered a pair of losses.
In November, the Red Sox shipped Stewart to Pittsburgh for a player to be named later (RHP Kyle Kaminska) where he spent a couple months on the Pirates 40-man roster before being designated for assignment earlier this month.
The Texas native's whirlwind professional career started when he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the third round of the 2008 draft out of Texas Tech. Stewart skyrocketed through the Reds system in 2009 making it to Double-A in his first full professional season before being traded to Toronto with two others for INF Scott Rolen. Prior to the 2010 campaign, Stewart was tabbed as the top prospect in the Blue Jays system by Baseball America.
Between Rolen, Jackson and Youkilis, Stewart has now been traded for players who have appeared in a combined 11 MLB All-Star Games. Hopefully, for the White Sox and Stewart, he is able to turn all of his minor league potential - 3.19 ERA over parts of five seasons - into Major League success in Chicago.